A family moved into a new home Wednesday evening, the latest home built in a partnership between the River City Habitat for Humanity of Jefferson City and students from Nichols Career Center.
Collaborative partners, friends, family and well-wishers gathered for a dedication ceremony at Monica Smith's new home in the 400 block of Marshall Street.
"I didn't think I was ever going to get here. Every morning on my way to work, I would call my mother; it was a countdown. 18 days. 17 days. So, last night about 12:30ish, I called and said 'guess what? No more days.' I am truly blessed," Smith said, and she gave thanks to everyone who helped her and her family be able to sleep in their new home for the first time Wednesday.
Smith will be sharing the home with her two sons and grand-daughter, and eventually, it will provide space needed for her 73-year-old mother to move in.
The dedication ceremony featured remarks from Norm Robinson, board president of River City Habitat for Humanity; a blessing from Smith's pastor, the Rev. Laverne Frazier of Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church; remarks from Jim Hofmann of the Habitat Restore; and from Mike Schaefer, instructor of the second-year building trades class at Nichols.
The home is the eighth Schaefer's students have worked on.
"The building of your home touched the lives of many of our students. We wish you well and hope that you make beautiful, wonderful memories in the time here at this home," he told Smith.
Bryan Wolf's first-year building trades students built the cabinets for the home, and Craig Strope's students worked on the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. It's "fantastic hands-on experience" in the real world for a real family, Strope said.
Three Nichols students who worked on the home were in attendance at the dedication ceremony: Clayton Lewis, Jonathan Gabaldon and Alex Miller, who all graduated this year.
Lewis said being able to work on the home was "something to take pride in," and he would consider volunteering for Habitat for Humanity again in the future on his own time.
Miller said "having the opportunity to help somebody out" meant a lot to him, as did being able to see the house come together from the ground up.
"They know that they are building a house for a family," Schaefer said. He said they try to work the initial blessing of the home into school hours so students can attend.
Smith said she had been moved in particular by Miller when he came up to her at the house blessing and told her God told him to say a special prayer for her and her family.
Tyanna Scott wished Smith's family well at the dedication Wednesday, too. Scott is a fellow Habitat homeowner and, just this month, paid off the 20-year, zero percent interest loan she had through Habitat. She said she was leaving for Florida today to celebrate.
Homeowners pay taxes and insurance on their Habitat homes, too, and they must contribute a required amount of sweat equity hours into construction. Applicants also attend workshops on how to be successful in owning a home.
Smith received the keys to her home and a Bible from Sally Brown, a family support partner.
Smith and her family also received housewarming gifts and news of more on Wednesday.
Colleen Carl stood in for Linda George of the Missouri River Quilt Guild. Carl is the assistant director of River City Habitat for Humanity, and she said a welcome quilt top of a design picked out by Smith was on its way.
She explained the back of the quilt will have the date of the house blessing and the family name on it.
Laurelanne Bellezzo, a member of the Zonta Club of Jefferson City, and the club's president Janel Luck presented the Smiths with a home starter gift package: an under-bed storage bin, a laundry basket, toilet paper, paper towels, dishwashing gear, laundry soap, light bulbs, toilet cleaning supplies and hand towels.
"You don't realize what you don't have in the house until you're looking for it," Bellezzo said.